Real-time PCR of osteogenic markers for OA chondrocytes cultured with MMP inhibitors; *statistical significance from control or 0 μM, unless otherwise specified; n = 3. (A–C) When OA chondrocytes were cultured in growth medium, cbfa-1 and osteopontin were significantly downregulated in the presence of all concentrations of MMPis. Bone sialoprotein was only decreased at the highest concentration. (D, E) After culture in chondrogenic medium with TGFβ1, both cbfa-1 and osteopontin demonstrated increasing trends in the presence of MMPis, with the most significant changes in osteopontin